Truss for the cure or relief of prolapsus uteri



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GOODOWN BRIGHT, OE BELLBROOK, OHIO.

TRUSS FOR THE CURE OR RELIEF OF PROLAPSUS UTERI.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 1,907, dated December 17, 1840.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GoooowN BRIGHT, of Bellbrook, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus or Trusses for the Cure or Relief of Prolapsus Uteri, Hernia, and other Diseases Analogous Thercto; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My improvements consist, mainly, in the manner in which I combine two elastic springs, and back pads, with an abdominal pad; and in the` manner in which I construct, and combine with said abdominal pad, a bifurcated steel spring, which I usually form of wire, and which sustains a perineal pad, while it leaves the urinary passage unobstructed.

Much inconvenience has been heretofore experienced from the manner in which abdominal pads have been attempted to be retained in place, the reacting spring, back pads, and straps, employed for that purpose, frequently producing chaling, and bcing also liable to get out of place from the motion of the body. To obviate these inconveniences I attach two elastic steel springs to the abdominal pad, in such inanner as to cause them to rise upward therefrom, in an oblique direction, to pass over and around the hips, and to descend so as to exert pressure upon the back by means of pads attached to their outer, or anterior, ends. In the accompanying drawing, A, A, is the abdominal pad, constructed in the ordinary way.

B, B, are two reacting springs, the fore ends of which pass through spaces between the plates, or staples, C, C, and the plate A, A, of the abdominal pad. Upon this latter plate there are a number of projecting pins a, a, a., which are received into corresponding holes o, Z1, b, in the springs B, B; by which arrangement of the parts, said springs may be readily shifted, and made to rise more or less vertically, so as to adapt them to the form and size of the person. At their anterior ends these straps carry back pads D, D, which serve effectually to retain the abdominal pad in place, the springs B, B, as before observed, passing above the hips, and not being subject to shift, or tending to produce inconvenience by pressure, as is the case under other modes of construction. In many cases of prolapsus uteri, and of hernia, an abdominal pad, so combined, will serve to sustan, andcounteract, the pressure of the intestines, and to give efficient relief without further aid; but when necessary I attach to the abdominal pad, an elastic, or wire, spring, which carries a perineal pad. E, E, represents this wire spring, the ends of which slide in un der the plate, or staples, F, attached to the lower edge of the plate of the abdominal pad. The part G, of this elastic, or wire, spring, is the foundation of the perineal pad, which may be placed upon it, and readily removed; this pad is formed and covered in the usual way. The wire spring and the pad are to be covered with indiarubber, or with any other material not liable to absorb and retain the exuding moisture. The bifurcation, or separation into twoparts, of this spring causes it to press with perfect equality, and at the same time removes all difficulty in the urinary functions, as the covered wires pass up on each side of the labia. It may be convenient sometimes, to carry a strap from the perineal pad, up to o-ne of the back pads, where it may be buttoned in the usual way. There hernia exists, pressure may, if necessary, be made upon the hernial ring, by attaching a pad, of suitable form, to the lower edge of the abdominal pad.

Having thus, fully described the nature of my invention, and shown how the same is carried into operation, what I claim therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The manner of -attaching to the abdominal pad, an elastic, bifurcated, wire, or steel, spring, carrying a perineal pad, the same being constructed, and operating, in the manner, and for the purpose, herein fully made known.

GOODOIVN BRIGHT.

`Witnesses Trios. I. JONES, GEORGE WEST. 

